Splendour is a soaraway success as Wollaton Park becomes a music hot spot

Music was on the menu throughout the day at Nottingham’s Splendour on Saturday and it proved a real festival feast for all.
Splendour NottinghamSplendour Nottingham
Splendour Nottingham

The entertainment started at noon and ran into the night until 10.30pm proving that the Wollaton Park event is a music marathon.

With five stages, each packed with a full programme of acts offering a variety of music styles as well as a comedy selection, there was something for everyone.

Headliners on the main stage were Ska band from the 70s, The Specials, who attracted a crowd of SKA supporters complete with braces and Doc Martens. These mixed with the fans of James who appeared more middle of the road as the crowd sang along to their soundtrack, Sit Down, and many others from the Manchester band.

Splendour NottinghamSplendour Nottingham
Splendour Nottingham

But it was Lawson, who I had only a vague knowledge of, who impressed me the most. Not only did lead singer Andy Brown have real stage presence, but he’s a bit of a looker too.

The snake-hipped singer jumped around the stage and, despite a few technical glitches, gave the crowd what they wanted. Hits from their previous album, together with their latest offering ‘recently recorded in Nashville’, created a rock/pop sound to rival 1D and the more edgier Script.

With Lawson introducing me to their great sound prompting a future album purchase, Bnanarama took me back to the past with their flashback to the 80s.

It wasn’t the trio of old but the duo of today as Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward are the remaining bandmates who reformed for the retro revolution.

They treated the vast crowd who had gathered at the Confetti stage to their well-known hits.

Several of their sounds had been remixed and reworked to give a rejuvenated sound to these classic pop hits from the decade that brought us Fun Boy Three, Rick Astley and The Human League.

Rumour, Robert De Niro’s Waiting and I want You Back, remixed with the Bee Gees classic disco tunes, thrilled the crowd who spilled far beyond the designated area proving two out of three ain’t bad.

The Fringe stage and attractions proved also popular with Swing Nouveau creating a classic sound which got people dancing as did the DH Lawrence and the Vaudeville Skiffle Show.

The Acoustic Stage, proved a hot venue in more ways than one as the courtyard created a sun trap that left many leaving with red faces.

Children were also considered with a circus area to keep them busy in two areas, with Notts County Football in the Community providing a penalty shooting zone which were free and a fun fair.

Splendour was undoubtedly a splendid,soaring success, which was well organised and even the weather fell into line and provided a perfect accompaniment to a great meal of music.

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